A Kirksville man was sentenced to a maximum sentence of seven years after pleading guilty to a second-degree assault charge in a Shelby County Circuit Court.

Carl Belcher, 35, will be transported to the Missouri Department of Corrections.

Belcher, who entered his guilty plea in court after requesting a change of venue from Adair County, was accused of threatening several people while at a Kirksville gas station. Witnesses alleged that Belcher ran at a person, threatening to beat them up while holding a knife during the incident in January.

Belcer also attempted to ram his vehicle against the victim’s vehicle. No one was injured at the scene and officers located the knife inside Belcher’s vehicle.

Belcher was charged as a prior and persistent offender.

Belcher was sentenced by Shelby County Associate Judge Mike Greenewell.